Top Ten: Lions Moments
Michael Hodge
Posted on: 01 May 2009 - 09:52
Rugby Union
As British and Irish Lions fever sweeps across the British Isles, sport.co.uk takes a look back at some of the glorious and not so glorious moments that this sporting tradition has produced.
10: Bill Beaumont (1980)
In 1980, the Lions toured South Africa for the first time since the famous tour of 1974. This year brought about a different scoreline, with the Boks winning the series 3-1. Although the Lions were outplayed in the first 3 test matches, Bill Beaumont inspired his side to win the final test match of the tour 17-13. The tour was notable for the large number of injuries to players and few gave the Lions a chance, but, after the final whistle, Beaumont was carried from the field on his team mates shoulders.
9: Hotel Incident (1974)
Not a rugby incident itself, but one of the most famous stories from the 1974 tour. With the Lions players running amok in a South African hotel, the manager of the establishment finally had enough and was to call the Police. He stormed to Willie John McBride’s hotel room and shouted that he was calling the police. McBride then opened the door of his room wearing nothing but the pipe he was smoking and casually replied “Do you think there will be many of them?” before closing the door again. The police were never called.
8: JPR Williams (1971)
The 1971 tour is arguably the second most famous Lions tour and, to this day, the only Lions side to have won a tour to New Zealand. With the Lions 2-1 up in the test series, all they needed from the final match was a draw to be victorious. The game was poised at 11-11 with 15 minutes left when the ball was kicked to legendary Lions full back, JPR Williams. Williams then launched a huge 50 metre drop goal which sailed through the posts, giving the Lions a 3 point cushion. New Zealand managed to score another penalty, but the Lions hung on to clinch a 14-14 draw and win the series. Amazingly it was the only drop goal that Williams ever scored in his career.
7: Matt Dawson (2001)
The 2001 tour was dogged with problems with the media. The Australian press gave the touring side a torrid time, constantly criticising them after all their matches. The media problems were not always the fault of the opposition press though. After the 2nd test match against the Wallabies, Matt Dawson wrote (well, ghost-wrote) for a British newspaper column. The article was critical of a number people in the Lions camp. With the pressure mounting on Dawson, he was selected at scrum half for the mid week match against ACT Brumbies. Austin Healey scored a try in the last play of the game to tie the score at 28-28, before Dawson stepped up and nailed over the tricky conversion. Dawson then broke down in tears after the game.
6: Jason Robinson (2001)
Following on from the shock inclusion of John Bentley in the 1997 tour, Jason Robinson was the surprise inclusion in the 2001 squad. Having only a handful of Rugby Union appearances following his switch from League, few expected much from Robinson on the tour. He managed to prove his doubters wrong when he was selected for the first test match against the Wallabies. In the first 4 minutes of the game, Robinson was given the ball 20 metres away from the line and sped past two would be tacklers for a sensational start to the match that was eventually won by the Lions.
5: Kangaroo Court (1997)
As all rugby players at all levels know, touring is not always about the rugby. In 1997 a documentary crew followed the Lions for the entire tour, giving the public an insight as to what life was like touring with the Lions.
One of the most memorable moments was when the entire squad held a “Kangaroo Court”, held by Judge Keith Wood and including cameos from Simon Shaw, Tim Rodber and Neil “Ruprect” Jenkins.
Many Lions managers since that tour have tried to replicate the team bond from the 1997 tour, but with little success.
4: Brian O’Driscoll (2001)
In the first test match, the Lions swamped the Wallabies and ran in 4 tries against them. As well as the Robinson try, the game is remembered for a moment of brilliance from a young Irish centre who would go on to become a legend.
With the Lions 12-3 up at the beginning of the second half, Brian O’Driscoll side stepped past two Wallaby defenders. He then side stepped the full back before sliding under the posts for, possibly, his most famous ever try.
3: Matt Dawson (1997)
Rob Howley had been pencilled in to start the test series since before the Lions had left the UK. Unfortunately for him, he dislocated his shoulder in the last warm up game before the first test. Young Englishman, Matt Dawson was chosen to take his place. With the first test entering its last 10 minutes and the Boks 16-15 up, Dawson picked up the ball from the base of a scrum at set off down the blind side. With Gary Teichmann in pursuit, Dawson threw a ludicrous dummy which everyone fell for, leaving him free to touch down in the corner.
2: 99 Call (1974)
The 1974 Springboks were famous for being an overly physical side. In the days when the home side supplied the referee, McBride decided that the Lions would have to “Get their retaliation in first”. On the first sign of any trouble from one of the Bok players, McBride would call “99” and every Lions player would have to punch the nearest Springbok to them. JPR Williams, during one such call, had to run 60 metres just to punch a Springbok.
1: Jeremy Guscott (1997)
The second test of the 1997 tour was a bizarre game. The Boks outscored the Lions 3 tries to nil, but their goalkicking was woeful and they failed to land a single kick. Neil Jenkins on the other hand kicked everything, meaning that going into the last 3 minutes of the game the scores were tied at 15-15. The Lions pack were deep in the Boks 22, but could not find a way through. Fly half Gregor Townsend thought he saw a gap, but was tackled. With the fly half now out of the game, Guscott stepped into the number 10 position. Matt Dawson passed him the ball and Guscott dropped the goal that won the Lions their first test series in South Africa in 23 years.